Rallies to focus on empowering parents for school choice

More than 60 rallies and other events are planned in Nebraska later this month as part of National School Choice Week.

Andrew Campanella is president of the countrywide effort, which focuses on giving parents the ability to make important educational decisions for their children.

“School choice is simply the process of empowering parents to choose the best schools for their kids,” Campanella says. “Parents should be able to choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and have the freedom to home-school their kids.”

The Husker State has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to school choice, according to Campanella. He hopes the planned rallies this month draw the attention of policymakers in Lincoln.

“While Nebraska allows parents to choose from different public schools in different districts, public charter schools are not allowed in Nebraska,” Campanella says. “It’s one of only eight states that does not allow these innovative, accountable schools. There are magnet schools, but there’s no online learning, full-time online school in the state and there are no private school choice programs.”

At least 65 events are planned across Nebraska during the last week of this month as part of School Choice Week, including a rally in Lincoln which aims to send a message to the Unicameral.

Campanella says, “Their events will include rallies at schools, open houses so parents can learn more about their education options for next school year, round table discussions, movie screenings, so many different types of events.”

More than 10,000 events are planned nationwide during the week, January 25-31. Learn more at the website: www.schoolchoiceweek.com.